Rome, Italy

Now that I am working for my first regional airline (There is a difference between major airlines & regional airlines - not flying with the big boys yet!), I needed to start taking advantages of the perk of traveling overseas. Thanks to Dave and his parents wanting to go over to Italy, I tagged along for part of their trip and saw Rome. Flying over in first class on Tuesday and arriving in Rome Wednesday morning only to check into our hotel, Hotel S. Anna, less than a city block from the Vatican City to see Pope Benedict holding mass in the Plaza of St. Peter. We spent all of Wednesday in the Vatican City, walking through the amazing halls that make up the Vatican's museums, stopping in the breath taking Sistene Chapel, climbing to the top of St. Peter's Basilica, and staring in awe of the beauty of the basilica itself. That night we met Aimee, Dave's cousin who lives in Rome for dinner. Thursday morning, thankfully the weather was beautiful for our hike to the Coliseum, stopping at Palatine Hill, the Roman Forum, the Fountain of Trevi, and the Spanish Steps. It wasn't until we were on our way to the amazing Pantheon that the rain moved in, which wasn't a bad thing because it just meant that we ate and drank more. Friday, unfortunately the weather had not cleared but that didn't stop us from going to Castle St. Angelo, and do a little Italian shopping (more like viewing the beautiful fashion and FURLA handbags). The rainy weather also led us to a wonderful wood burning oven Pizzaria for lunch followed by Gelato. I couldn't get enough of the gelato - thank God I don't live in Rome because I might BECOME gelato I would eat so much! That night Aimee drove us to her and Roberto's appartment and then to Frascati for dinner. Before I knew it my vacation was over, Saturday morning I said good-bye to Dave and his parents to fly back to Atlanta, while they continued on to Northern Italy. Not even getting a center seat in coach ruined my wonderful experience in Rome! I can't wait to go back - I DID throw my coin into the Trevi Fountain, so I WILL be returning. Ciao!

A Chicago Wedding

Over the hills and through the woods...

... to Grandma & Grandpa's house in Denver, CO. This visit was LONG over due, but finally I got to see Grandma & Grandpa Snook! They have a beautiful new house in gorgeous Colorado. They showed me around their neighborhoods and took me to Estes Park where my Aunt Mary lives. I am pretty sure I will be back again soon!

Helen, GA

Amanda was nice enough to invite a group of us up to her grandmother's cabin in Helen, located in northern Georgia. We ate well, drank well and had a wonderful time while enjoying the beautiful fall weather in the mountains of Georgia. Thanks again Amanda!

Jimmy Buffett Concert

Officially moving...AGAIN

Mini Get Away

Charleston, SC

My Michigan Ladies

Still Under Construction

City Aviation

City Aviation
Originally uploaded by sasnook.

My time in Michigan is up. With the return of Larry, I have fulfilled my end of the agreement and will be returning to Atlanta. I had a blast with these guys and I managed to learn a few things along the way. Mark, thank you for teaching me so much and always making me laugh, you should have been named Bill. Steve, you’re an awesome stick and so easy going, I will miss being your backseat driver and eating beaucoup de sushi. I’m sorry you’re going to have to put the engine covers on by yourself again. Larry, I am glad that we even had one flight together, although a second would have been nice; I am so glad you have your health again and I am sure I would have learned as much from you as I did from Mark and Steve. It’s time for me to try a different path, I don’t know if it will be the right one, but I will take what I learned from the three of you and continue to expand my knowledge. Thanks guys it was great to cruise the skies with you!

Take Me Home to Minnesota

I am so excited that I was home this past weekend! It was strictly a family weekend (Bill & Jojo included), hanging out with the parents and my sister. Dave came to visit too. It all started because I needed to get a new drivers license. Amazing how a driver’s license can turn into a fun filled weekend that included playing cards with the fam, and a Twins game with Rachel and Dave.

New Orleans

On the road again...first time to New Orleans and the French Quarter.

New York, New York

New York, New York
Originally uploaded by sasnook.

Before today I had never been to New York City. We flew into Teteboro for the weekend, which is a very popular airport for corporate aircraft on the east coast in New Jersey. I caught one of the earliest buses I could catch over to Manhattan and met my friend Alex from FlightSafety Academy. We immediately headed toward the Empire State Building. I had never been in a skyscraper (I don’t know if the space needle counts). I was hoping for a spectacular view of the city but the visibility was zero. So Alex and I found a bench on top of the Empire State Building and caught up on what was going on. After about an hour of waiting for the clouds to clear we gave up and headed back down to find breakfast. We proceeded to walk to Ground Zero, then to Battery Park, followed by Wall Street, the Brooklyn Bridge, China Town, Little Italy and caught a subway to the Upper West Side where I met Jenni, a good friend from high school. Jenni recently landed her first position as a performer in an off Broadway musical and had gotten herself an agent. After catching up with Jenni on her one free hour of the day between meeting with her personal trainer and going to her musical’s rehearsal, Alex and I moved on to Central Park and Time Square to have dinner. By the completion of dinner Alex and I had decided that we had had enough sight seeing, so we said our good-byes, he headed back toward Long Island and I headed back to Jersey. What a great city, unlike any I had ever been to, and it was great to see and few good friends. But man was I happy to climb into my hotel bed and get off my feet.11 Nov 06

Autumn in Michigan

Westview Orchard
Originally uploaded by sasnook.

This may have been the last weekend the sun will shine on the state of MI until May, and with Dave in town, we experienced a Midwest Fall to the fullest. Friday night we drove out to the sticks to possibly become part of a Dateline Special Edition at a haunted corn maze. Not only were the last five miles on a dark gravel road to god knows where, but also it was sleeting. (Some girlfriend I am – great idea huh?) We actually turned around to begin driving back the 45 minutes it took to get there, and then decided we had made it that far we had to get scared to death now. The end result was that I was the one that was scared to death, screaming at guys with fake chainsaws and other monsters jumping out at Dave and I as we made our way through the dark cornfield. Dave on the other hand was probably scared to death because I clutched his arm so tight that his circulation was cut off, but I think he thoroughly enjoyed laughing at me being such a scared-y-cat. The rest of the weekend was gorgeous filled with more autumn activities of orchards, cider and apple pie. Then on Monday, as if on cue, rain and an overcast layer of clouds moved in. I can officially say good-bye to warm weather and blue skies. Is it May yet? 15 Oct 2006

Sleeping Bear Dunes

Sleeping Bear Dunes
Originally uploaded by sasnook.

One of the perks of being a corporate pilot is that you go to some interesting places (you just don't always have time to leave the airport). Today Steve and I flew to Frankford, MI where we would be spending all day waiting for our passengers to finish their business before returning to Detroit. The airport manager was nice enough to hand over the keys to an eighties model Honda Prelude. We drove north to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park. Lake Michigan was gorgeous and who knew these amazing sand dunes existed on a Great Lake. The water was so clean and clear (not to mention kind’a cold) and the dunes ranged from normal size to so gigantic you couldn’t believe this large steep hill in front of you was a live moving dune. I can only imagine how beautiful Lake Michigan on the shores of Sleeping Bear Dunes in autumn. Hopefully this will be one of the many beautiful places I go while I am working in Detroit. 24 August 2006

My New Job as a Lear 45 Pilot

My New Job as a Lear 45 Pilot
Originally uploaded by sasnook.

The 45 I am flying still in the hangar, earlier this week before we pushed off for Naples, FL. She sits up to nine people. All glass in the cockpit, which is a tight fit. Her range is 1800 NM. She's a little sports car in the sky and my first jet. I love this airplane.

FlightSafety Going Away Party

FlightSafety Going Away Party
Originally uploaded by sasnook.

I work with so many amazing people at FlightSafety, they are all going to be missed! These two characters are Chris and Bill - a few of my many favorites at the FlightSafety Atlanta Center.

The Vespa

The Vespa
Originally uploaded by sasnook.

Forth of July Weekend in Florida with Dave and his family driving around the Vespa.

Congratulations Britta & Sean!

IMG_2391
Originally uploaded by sasnook.

Today was one of the first of many weddings to come from White Bear Lake’s graduating class 2000. This afternoon, Britta Torgerson and Sean Jabbar became Mr. & Mrs. Jabbar in St. Paul, MN. Every moment of the wedding had touches of influence from Britta, from the programs handed out at the wedding ceremony to décor on the tables at the reception. Britta, as usual, looked stunning and maintained her usual serenity. It was great to see close friends, Rummel, Jenni, and the Dickson and Torgerson family as well as Alyson and Katie Johnson. Britta, what an amazing ceremony! Congratulations sweetie and I wish you and Sean only the best! 10 June 2006

I want to win a million dollars.

IMG_2367
Originally uploaded by sasnook.

Who doesn’t? After watching a few seasons of Survivor, being intrigued by the challenge (and the money) and being told by numerous people that I would be perfect for the show, I decided I would go for it. I was going to be in Minnesota this weekend anyway for Britta’s wedding, so why not come in a day or two earlier to try out in Becker, MN? So last night I finally caught the last flight out of Atlanta into Minneapolis on standby, Mom picked me up and early this morning we found ourselves on the way up to Becker to meet with WCCO’s camera teams for an opportunity to be in front of a camera for 2 minutes to make my argument for why they should choose me. Mom also decided to interview as well. I don’t know if I really presented my character very well on film (and I accidentally swore), so who knows what will happen, but I did have a blast spending some quality time with mom and meeting some other great candidates that were trying out as well. I will know more come early August…but if I don’t get a chance for the next round of tryouts, I am definitely going to tryout again next time. Wish my mom and I luck! 9 June 2006

Bill’s Blue Angels

IMG_2334
Originally uploaded by sasnook.

There is something about men named Bill in my life that have this love of air shows, primarily the Blue Angels, and share the love of aviation with me. Previously in my blog I have introduced many of you to my dear friend, mentor and hero, Bill Chervenak who exposed me to Alaska last summer, took be to my first Blue Angels Air show among many other life experiences, but I have yet to introduce my fellow coworkers at FlightSafety Atlanta. Since January I have been an intern on the Lear 45 of which contains a close-knit group of instructors that happens to be good friends. Luis is the program manager for the 45, and the instructors include Randy, Buzz, Regina, and Bill. Bill immediately took me under his wing and has been such a support while I have been at the Atlanta Center, and as you may have guessed we went to see the Blue Angels at Dobbins field together with Regina. I have to say a little more about Regina as well. Obviously being a pilot and a female, Regina and I hit it off right away, she helped me though the bumps I first experienced with learning my first jet and over the past few months we have become good friends. She is an excellent cook and is always inviting me over for a meal, although after the first meal I was invited to a table cloth went up in flames on the deck I can’t believe she invited me back (don’t ask, basically female pilots, though great cooks, shouldn’t always be allowed in the kitchen). Anyway, Regina, Bill and myself were given clearance into Dobbins Air force base to see the practice routine, which as usual was spectacular. After the air show we walked around looking at all the military aircraft. The funniest part of the day was Bill and I walked over to a Delta 767 that was on the ramp and earlier had been allowing people to go into the cockpit (Bill flew in the military and then for Delta until forced retirement). As we approached, a Delta captain was at the bottom of the stairs and informed us that they were no longer allowing tours for the day. Bill responded, “Well that’s too bad you have a future Delta pilot here” at which the captain turned to me and replied “Well you just continue to study hard in those math and science classes.” I giggled a little that the captain thought I was a high school student and told him politely that I had already graduated from college, at which Bill realized what had happened and he put his hand on my back and told the captain “This little girl flies a Lear 45.” After we shocked the Delta captain Bill, Regina and I enjoyed the rest of the afternoon looking at more airplanes. I really have enjoyed working at FlightSafety so far, everyone from the Lear 45 program, to marketing, customer support and many many others in other programs and administrative positions have been wonderful. I really feel that even though my immediate family is not present in Atlanta that I have begun to have a home away from home. I think I may be staying here for a while. 28 April 2006